Harlequins vs Sale Sharks

Quins showed impressive grit in round seven to march to a win at Kingsholm, built largely on the impressive performance of their pack. They’ll be looking to do the same this weekend against a Sale team who themselves had a very good outing in dispatching London Irish with ease. Nick Evans’ battle with Danny Cipriani is a mouth-watering one, as two of the most creative men in the league go head to head. If the weather holds, we could be in for a treat, but ultimately the foundations for any victory will be set up front. Danny Care, discarded by England, is named on the Quins bench and will be desperate to prove a point when he gets on.

Quins look like they might have turned a corner and are playing some brilliant rugby again – they should triumph here. Harlequins by 9.

Newcastle Falcons vs Gloucester Rugby

This is a tricky fixture for Gloucester to negotiate after their disappointing loss to Harlequins last weekend. Kingston Park can be a hostile ground and you can bet that on a Friday night, with wounded opposition arriving, the Falcons’ fans will be bang up for this one. Gloucester have now lost two in a row and are in danger of undoing what looked like a solid start to the season for them. With captain Billy Twelvetrees called up to England duty, Matt Kvesic takes the armband, but more importantly young Billy Burns is given the no.10 jersey. Precociously talented, no doubt, it will be intriguing to see how he fares in the Premiership.

It all makes this a tricky one to call. If both sides had full teams out, Gloucester would likely canter to a win. Their side, both up front and in the backs, however is shorn of some big names and for that reason I’m backing an un-fancied Newcastle side to sneak a win. Newcastle by 2.

Exeter Chiefs vs Wasps

This has all the makings of one of the games of the weekend. Both sides bring good form into the game, having won their last two on the bounce, and both line-ups are brimming with attacking talent. For the Chiefs the Steenson-Hill-Slade triumvirate continues to go from strength to strength after orchestrating a famous win at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend, and in the pack Thomas Waldrom has quickly made himself a fans’ favourite with some barnstorming performances. Wasps’ annhilation of London Welsh isn’t a great barometer of where they are, given that the Exiles’ defence looked like something you might see from a Sunday second XV. There’s no doubting the attacking potential in this side though, and with Ashley Johnson and Nathan Hughes in their ranks they have two of the players of the season so far.

Another very difficult call to make, but given Exeter’s heroics last weekend it’s impossible to go against them bringing that form back to Sandy Park this weekend. Exeter by 3.

London Irish vs Bath Rugby

London Irish made a strong start to the season but have stalled in the past month or so, culminating in a woeful away loss at Sale last weekend. After their mightily impressive win at Welford Road they have lost three on the bounce and find themselves in 10th, just two points ahead of Newcastle. They welcome back two men who were key to their early season form, Shane Geraghty and Scott Steele, this weekend. Bath include Kyle Eastmond and Semesa Rokoduguni after the two were released by England earlier this week. The protocols surrounding Eastmond’s concussion means he won’t have been able to train much this week, whilst it is unclear whether England knew Rokoduguni would be fit enough for this weekend. Either way, they were both released on Tuesday so have been with the squad all week and should slot right back in.

The Bath line-up looks strong despite their missing a few of their first choice front five, and they should be able to get a win here. Bath by 6.

Saracens vs Northampton Saints

What a game this should be. A repeat of last year’s final, both sides looked the most likely to make it back there again this year – until last weekend, that is. If Saracens’ draw at Welford Road can be explained away given the conditions and the backs-to-the-wall mentality at an under-fire Welford Road at the moment, the Saints’ loss at home to Exeter will not have been an easy one to stomach. Exeter were good but the Saints really weren’t, and although they are missing several players to the international cause, there are still enough of their experienced campaigners in their ranks that they should not have put in such an insipid display.

They’ll come roaring back this week, no doubt, but Allianz Park is as tough a place to win as they come and I can’t see Sarries surrendering. Saracens by 5.

London Welsh vs Leicester Tigers

It is becoming increasingly frustrating to write previews of London Welsh games – there are only so many synonyms for ‘porous’ when discussing their defence. Last weekend against Wasps they plumbed new depths, shipping an embarrassing 71 points. It was painfully obvious where their defence wasn’t working and yet the worrying fact is that it actually seems to be getting worse rather than better. They have a long list of individuals unavailable with injury, but there can be no number of crocked players that excuses so huge a loss. The Tigers stuttered to a draw with Saracens in dire conditions at Welford Road, and they are in desperate need of a properly good, attacking performance. London Welsh provides the perfect opportunity for them to do that.

Anything other than a bonus point win for the Tigers here would be a real surprise. Leicester by 35.

How do you see the weekend going?

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images